local: Bear Coffee
I found a place where I want to move the Wednesday evening Bear event. I'll be discussing it this week at the usual Dunn Brothers coffeehouse.
There is a place at 33rd and Central Avenue that would be perfect for us once they're fully operational. One of my roommates, joshuwain, explained to me that "Columbia Grounds" has been through a few owners recently. It closed after a less-than-ideal owner was unable to make ends meet last year. The new management has opened it up just in recent days/weeks, so they're still working on getting everything together. When I went on Saturday daytime and Monday evening, here is what I found when compared to the current coffeehouse:
I was out there tonight eating my sandwich, salad, and herbal tea ($9.80 total, I think) when two women came in to see if the place was serving wine yet. They weren't, and the women left. Columbia Grounds is trying to get a liquor license so they can sell wines. Until that happens, they'll probably continue closing at 8pm instead of later in the evening because they lack the business to stay open. The way liquor licenses are managed around here, it could be a month when they get approval or it could be never.
If a large number of Bears started showing up, I think they would extend hours for us. They need the business, obviously. But the reduced hours are the only thing that make me hesitate about declaring this place the "winner" for next potential Bear Coffee site.
Here's their webpage, although it is VERY old. The menu and such are no longer applicable. Still, it'll show you the appearance of the place and give you a sense of where it's at on the map.
http://www.columbiagrounds.com/
There is a place at 33rd and Central Avenue that would be perfect for us once they're fully operational. One of my roommates, joshuwain, explained to me that "Columbia Grounds" has been through a few owners recently. It closed after a less-than-ideal owner was unable to make ends meet last year. The new management has opened it up just in recent days/weeks, so they're still working on getting everything together. When I went on Saturday daytime and Monday evening, here is what I found when compared to the current coffeehouse:
- they have coffees (cheaper), teas (cheaper), plus fresh sandwiches, salads, and soups (MUCH yummier)
- they have a large patio (quieter)
- they may be serving wine soon
- the only magazine stack at the door was Lavender's (GLBT friendly, clearly)
- they do have free wifi for use on laptops (which I need so I can attend when I have the pager from work)
I was out there tonight eating my sandwich, salad, and herbal tea ($9.80 total, I think) when two women came in to see if the place was serving wine yet. They weren't, and the women left. Columbia Grounds is trying to get a liquor license so they can sell wines. Until that happens, they'll probably continue closing at 8pm instead of later in the evening because they lack the business to stay open. The way liquor licenses are managed around here, it could be a month when they get approval or it could be never.
If a large number of Bears started showing up, I think they would extend hours for us. They need the business, obviously. But the reduced hours are the only thing that make me hesitate about declaring this place the "winner" for next potential Bear Coffee site.
Here's their webpage, although it is VERY old. The menu and such are no longer applicable. Still, it'll show you the appearance of the place and give you a sense of where it's at on the map.
http://www.columbiagrounds.com/